Thursday, January 05, 2012

I put my characters through the ringer—and in those terrible
times, they discover the rock bottom truth that God loves me, no matter what. Lately I have written a number of
books looking at the question of prejudice—racial, cultural, class—from
different directions. That’s an issue in Bridge
to Love, in Maple Notch Bride, when
a poor farmer is courting the banker’s daughter.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

Ranger’s Trail, my
second book (fourth overall) in the Texas
Trails series, will be released in February. Sometime this spring Pride’s Fall, my last book with the
Heartsong bookclub, will be released.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person
(not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I could name some dear friends I haven’t seen for decades.
Or I could go with celebrities. I’d love to talk with Philip Yancey. His book Disappointment with God revolutionized
how I thought about God’s sovereign love in difficult times, and all his books
since speak to me.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides
Jesus) and why?

Historical. Hmm. I think of the hosts of ordinary women (and
men too) who grew to greatness: Mother Teresa. Rosa Parks. Joan of Arc. Oscar
Schindler. Corrie Ten Boom. Martin Luther. Martin Luther King. What transformed
them from everyday people to makers and shakers?

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only
rejections from publishers?

I use my own example. I say I continued writing long past
the point it made any sense, when any sensible person would have stopped this
single-minded pursuit. For a ten year period, I might perhaps have made one
sale a year. One sale of an article, several of them for free. My first book
was published after I had been writing for fourteen years. Since then, things
begin to snowball.

I wrote one nonfiction book and four novels before my first
book was published (which was the second novel I had written).

Also, the last time I seriously questioned whether I should
continue writing, God gave me a clear answer. I didn’t need to know whether He
wanted me to write for the rest of my life; I knew He wanted me to write the
book I was working on. And by the time I finished that, I had a contract for my
first book. (The book I was writing at that time has never sold, by the way.)

Rejections are part of a writer’s life. Rather than trying
to continuously improve on that one manuscript, move on to the next one after a
reasonable length of time (“reasonable” for me was 1-2 years per manuscript).

I'm so glad you never gave up. I love your stories. Tell us about the featured book.

I’m originally from New
England, so I had a lot of fun writing about my back yard. I
wanted my stories to have a real Vermont
feel. Pamela Griffin used the maple sugar industry as a backdrop for her
contemporary set, Vermont
Weddings. So I used a covered bridge that plays a role in each story. In
the first book, it’s still a tree. . .the first covered bridge wasn’t built for
another thirty years.

Climb
into adventure in the GreenMountainState
where party politics, parental pressure, and personal misperceptions challenge
three couples. Sally Reid and her family of Patriots are in hiding. Can she
trust Josiah Tuttle, a man whose father is loyal to King George? (Prodigal
Patriot, a Revolutionary War story) Beatrice Bailey’s wealthy father wants
his daughter to marry up—not down. Does farmer Calvin Tuttle have any chance of
winning Beatrice’s heart and her father’s blessing? (Bridge to Love, a
Year of No Summer story) Clara Farley has accepted the role of spinster. Can
Daniel Tuttle get her to change her mind? (Love’s Raid, a Civil War
story) Will God show these couples a way above the fray?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Maple Notch, Vermont

May 1777

Today was a glorious day to be outside, Sally Reid decided
as she went about her morning chores. Cool air flowed down from the mountains,
scented with pine, the evergreen trees that gave the “Verts Monts,” or the Green Mountains, their name. The sun overhead promised
sunshine and warmth, and green shoots pushed up through the ground. She loved
the rhythms of farm life, the cycles of sowing, growing, reaping, and resting.
A song of praise burst from her lips.

Sally stopped in mid-verse. Her
singing called for no audience beyond the chickens who clucked along with her.
Pa teased that she had the voice of a crow. Of all people, who should catch her
in her morning serenade but Josiah Tuttle.

“Morning to you, Mr. Tuttle.”

He smiled at her, the same grin
that had infuriated her since childhood. It always put her in mind of the day
he pulled the mobcap off her head after she’d had the measles. Clumps of her
straight, oak-colored hair came off with the mobcap, and she had run home and
refused to come out again. Remembering, she put a hand to the top of her head,
making sure its covering was in place.

Josiah’s hair was as black now
as it had been then, the same red highlights created by the sun. But the years
had transformed him from a skinny lad to a stalwart man, tall and well built.
Not that she would ever make mention of the fact.

“Is Nathaniel about yet?” His
voice had changed as well, into a marvelous baritone. He could sing far better
than she could.

“I haven’t seen him.” Sally
wondered if they required a chaperone for this conversation. Anyone could see
them in the open dooryard. In fact, she saw a flicker in the opening in the
cabin wall—probably her little sister, Nellie. Next thing Sally knew, Nellie
would start announcing that Josiah was calling on her to everyone who stopped
by.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

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i am so glad you are featuring so many of the 4-in-1 novellas. They are my moms favorites, and since she has read so many of them, this is an awesome way to keep up with the new ones. Now, just to remember to make a list and take it along to the library! Would love to win this one for her.

Maple Notch is not a real town - I grabbed "Notch" from "Smugglers Notch" (and smuggling plays a very small role in the second book). "Maple" because Vermont makes me think of maple syrup. It's located near the Canadian border.

Several of you have commented on the cover for Maple Notch Brides. I don't know if my heroine Sally Reid had a dress quite that fancy, but I also love, love, love the cover! The Barbour artists do a great job in cover design.

Looking forward to reading the new book and also the remainder of her books. Darlene Franklin is a new author to me, but I like the kind of book that the two of you discussed. Please include my name in the drawing. Than k you. Judy C. in Louisiana.

I have never been to Vermont before. I want to go to see the leaves in the fall. This book seems like it would give me a good idea what it's like. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy January!